Va. Republican Corey Stewart announces bid for US Senate

Corey Stewart, the chair of the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, speaks to reporters after announcing his run for U.S. Senate at his home in Woodbridge. Stewart pledged to "dethrone" incumbent Tim Kaine, a Democrat, and to support President Donald Trump's conservative policies. (WTOP/Kristi King)

An outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump who narrowly lost a bid to be Virginia's GOP candidate for governor is now running for the U.S. Senate.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — An outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump who narrowly lost a bid to be Virginia’s GOP candidate for governor is now running for the U.S. Senate.

Corey Stewart announced his Senate candidacy Thursday, saying he is the type of Republican “fighter” needed to unseat Sen. Tim Kaine in next year’s election.

Stewart is a former state campaign chairman for Trump who lost to former Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie in the GOP gubernatorial primary last month. The underfunded Stewart ran a deliberately provocative campaign, which included outspoken support for Confederate symbols, to gain attention.

He’s promising to run a similarly aggressive campaign for Senate.

Several other Republicans, including former Gov. Jim Gilmore and former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, have also expressed interest in running.